Sealed USB-C for Industrial and Outdoor Duty
The Molex 2171770001 is a USB Type-C receptacle rated IPX5 against water ingress, with a shielded steel and stainless shell that contains emissions and protects the signal path. It carries 24 contacts — 6 active across the standard USB 3.1 Gen 2 signal and power pins, plus 18 dummy positions for mechanical stability and future-proofing. The 3 A per-contact rating at 30 VAC/DC covers both charging and data-line current, and the 10000 mating cycles put it well beyond consumer-grade USB-C receptacles, which typically spec 5000 cycles.
Board Layout: Right-Angle Mid-Mount SMT
This is a surface-mount, right-angle receptacle with a horizontal mid-mount feature — the connector body sits recessed into a cutout on the PCB edge so the mating face aligns flush with the board edge. The mid-mount design reduces the z-height above the board, which matters for tight enclosures where a standard right-angle USB-C would protrude too far. The SMT tails are gold-plated for solderability and corrosion resistance during reflow. The 24 pads follow the USB Type-C footprint standard; the 18 dummy contacts provide additional solder-joint strength against insertion and cable strain forces.
IPX5 — Waterproof Only When Mated
The IPX5 rating means the receptacle withstands low-pressure water jets from any direction — but only when mated with a corresponding IPX5-rated USB-C plug. Unmated, the receptacle cavity is open; if the application needs the port to survive washdown or rain between uses, a sealing cap for the open half is required. The gasket inside the shell compresses against the plug body to create the seal; the stainless steel shell resists corrosion in humid or chemically washed environments.
10000 Mating Cycles — Field-Service Grade
The 10000-cycle rating is the standout durability spec. Standard USB-C receptacles for consumer devices typically carry 5000 to 10000 cycles; this sits at the high end, suited for equipment that sees frequent plug-unplug cycles — handheld scanners, portable medical devices, test equipment, or industrial HMIs. The gold-plated contacts and dual-beam design maintain contact force across those cycles without exposing base metal. For a fixed-installation cable that mates once, this rating is overkill; for a field-service port that gets plugged daily, it is the spec that prevents early field failure.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 Compatibility
The 24-contact layout with 6 active signal/power lines maps to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 pinout (SuperSpeed+ data pairs, CC line, VBUS, and ground). The shielded shell provides the EMI containment needed to sustain the 10 Gbps signalling rate without crosstalk degradation. The 3 A rating supports standard USB charging profiles up to 15 W; for higher-power USB PD applications, verify the system's current negotiation stays within the per-contact limit.